Mercury13 acquire majority stake in Bristol City Women.

Mercury13, the multi-club ownership group dedicated to the advancement of women’s football, has acquired a majority stake in Bristol City Women.

After more than a decade of investment, the Lansdown family is handing over stewardship of the women’s side of Bristol City to Mercury13 and will retain a minority shareholding in the women’s club.

The first deal of its kind in English football is the group’s second investment in European football, following its entry into the Italian Serie A with the acquisition of Como Women in 2024.

Mercury13 will usher in a new era of dedicated investment, infrastructure, and commercial innovation in The Robins. The acquisition reflects Mercury13’s belief that the women’s club represents a unique opportunity to unlock commercial growth, elevate sporting performance and deepen the cultural footprint of the women’s game in the city and its community.

Under Mercury13’s stewardship, with a new Head Coach in Charlotte Healy and 13 new players, City are targeting a return to the Barclays Women’s Super League. They will continue to play at Ashton Gate Stadium, having agreed a long-term arrangement that reflects a commitment to building fan engagement and matchday excellence, as well as continuing to train at the Robins High Performance Centre.

Stephen Lansdown CBE said: “My family and I have watched and supported the women’s team for nearly two decades. From the early days when they competed as Bristol Academy and were transitioning from amateur to semi-pro and playing at SGS College, to our decision to fully fund and integrate the club into Bristol City as a whole, with the move to the Robins High Performance Centre and supporting them into the professional era as part of our sporting group.

“We are proud to have helped be a part of growing the women’s game. Watching that Champions League match in 2014, when as Bristol Academy they beat Barcelona in one of their first games at Ashton Gate, in front of just a few hundred fans; to today, calling Ashton Gate their home, breaking club records for attendances and selling out the stadium when we’ve hosted the Lionesses.

“The growth in women’s football is astounding. We have always said we would look at investment if it was the right partner at the right time, and I believe now is that time for City Women. Mercury13’s ambition for women’s football matches our own; their dedicated investment and focus on women’s football will accelerate Bristol City Women’s growth and I look forward to seeing what the club can achieve in the years to come.”

Bristol City Women Chair and Bristol Sport CEO Gavin Marshall, who led the acquisition process, added: “This is a pivotal moment for Bristol City Women and we are excited about the next chapter in the club’s story. Mercury13 have been excellent to work with throughout the acquisition and have the commitment and capability to drive Bristol City Women forward and continue our proud history as a progressive, innovative and community-focussed club. I am confident that the guardianship of the club is in excellent hands.”

Founded and led by Victoire Cogevina Reynal and Mario Malavé, Mercury13 is building a portfolio of clubs with the ambition of redefining the landscape of the women’s game through strategic investment, competitive ambition and fan-focused growth.

Mario Malavé, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Mercury13,said:“Bristol City Women represents everything we look for in a club: a rich history; a track record of performance; world-class infrastructure; and incredibly loyal supporters. Our entry into the English football pyramid is a major milestone for Mercury13, and one we approach with deep respect and responsibility. We’re honoured by the Lansdown family’s trust and are committed to building something special alongside the Bristol community.”

Mercury13 will continue to invest in the club’s player development pipeline. The club’s Tier 1 Academy serves a wide catchment across the South West and Wales, and the new ownership structure brings renewed focus to its growth and potential. With a strong legacy of producing international calibre talent - the Academy will be further developed to ensure a clear and competitive pathway from youth to first team.

Hannah Haynes, Chief Strategy Officer at Mercury13, who led the acquisition for Mercury13’s added: “We are proud to have reached this agreement between the many stakeholders and are committed to driving the growth of this distinctive and ambitious club during a pivotal time for women’s football in England. Working closely with the wider ecosystem - from broadcasters to commercial partners - we aim to build on strong foundations, enhance the matchday experience and establish the club as a competitive force and a household fixture in the South West.”

Completion of the deal is subject to league approval.

About Mercury13

Mercury13 is a multi-club ownership group focused on acquiring majority stakes in professional women’s football teams across Europe. The vision of the group is to become the benchmark in the women’s club ownership industry by identifying and investing in the clubs of the next decade, while enhancing their commercial capabilities to engage a large but historically underserved audience of women’s football fans.

The group’s acquisition strategy is founded on a core principle: women’s football is a different game, and fans seek a distinct experience.Mercury13 is led by executives with proven track records in sports, investment, and technology. The founding team brings together unique expertise, skills, and perspectives that position them to become a leading operator in this sector.

About Bristol City Women Football Club & Bristol Sport Group

Bristol City, formerly known as Bristol Academy WFC, was a founding member of the Women’s Super League in 2011.The team reached two Women’s FA Cup Finals (2011 and 2013), finishing runners-up in the WSL in 2013, and competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (2011 and 2014), including reaching the quarter-finals in 2014 and playing Barcelona in the Champions’ League.

As the game began to professionalise, integration into Bristol City FC in 2014 and the Bristol Sport Group founded by Steve Lansdown CBE, allowed for further growth and the team became a fully professionalised outfit by 2018.

After relegation in 2020/21, it took the team just two seasons to get promoted back to the WSL in 2022/23. Whilst the 2023/24 season saw the team relegated, off the pitch the season was a catalyst for growth at the team’s Ashton Gate home with an average attendance of 6,987 - the fifth highest in the WSL. In 2024/25 City Women finished sixth in Barclays Women’s Championship (WSL2) before a summer of recruitment under new Head Coach Charlotte Healey ahead of the 2025/26 WSL2 season.

The Bristol Sport Group was founded by Steve Lansdown in 2012, and includes Bristol City, Bristol Bears, Bristol Flyers basketball, the clubs’ respective charitable foundations and Ashton Gate Stadium. Ashton Gate is a multi-use venue and home to Bristol City and the Bears. It has a footfall of more than a million people a year hosting sport, entertainment, conferences and events and plans for a 5,000-seater multi-purpose arena and home for the Flyers, to be delivered next door to the stadium by 2028.

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